Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit — no pedaling required.
Technology
Hidden features to try now on your Windows PC or Mac
Man utilizing laptop computer laptop on airplane. (baona)
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I am usually requested if the most recent Mac or Home windows replace is prepared for prime time. Sadly, most of us have handled sufficient buggy software program that we’re hesitant to hit “set up” on a major improve.
If you have not jumped as much as macOS Monterey or Home windows 11, I can now safely say it is time. Earlier than you replace, take the one vital step and be sure to have sufficient area for it. Faucet or click on right here to see how a lot storage is accessible in your laptop.
Updates don’t simply deliver new options. They shield your machine from identified exploits and safety points, too. Faucet or click on right here for 5 extra good methods to get your digital life so as.
As soon as your machine is up-to-date, let’s soar into a couple of new tips to check out.
Man having video name on laptop computer laptop.
(iStock)
Home windows: Realign the Begin button again to the left
With Home windows 11, the Begin button is centered within the taskbar, which can throw you off for those who’ve been utilizing Home windows for years. Transferring it again to the left is straightforward:
- Press the Home windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
- Select Personalization and Taskbar.
- Choose Taskbar behaviors, then click on Left underneath Taskbar alignment.
Get a recent begin: Home windows PC not working accurately? Strive a clear set up.
Mac: Copy and paste textual content from a photograph
This characteristic is significantly cool. Say there’s a picture with an electronic mail handle. You may add it to your contacts record, ship out an electronic mail, and even begin a FaceTime name. This trick additionally works for web site addresses inside pictures. You may open a hyperlink in your browser or use Fast Look to see the location’s info.
To strive it out, open a picture with textual content within the Preview app in your Mac.
- Hover your pointer over the textual content. Then, drag to pick out it. From right here, you possibly can copy, translate, lookup the which means, search the online, or share the textual content.
SECURITY 101: 5 important Mac safety settings you need to allow now
Home windows: Customise fast settings
The notification heart in Home windows 11 comprises fast settings that give you quick access to your generally used settings and apps. You may add or take away fast settings to your liking:
- Press Win + A to open fast settings.
- Choose the Edit fast settings icon.
- Choose the Add button so as to add a fast setting or press the pin icon on the short setting you need to take away.
- Verify your adjustments by hitting Achieved.
RELATED: 5 finest Home windows 11 utilities to get extra out of your PC
Mac: Give attention to what issues
Notifications can significantly mess along with your circulation when attempting to get issues executed. With Mac’s new Focus characteristic, you possibly can select which notifications are vital and which of them can wait until later.
- To show it on, click on the Management Middle icon within the menu bar. It appears like two small parallel bars.
- Click on Focus and select Do Not Disturb for the timeframe you like.
- It’s also possible to customise your choices by clicking Focus Preferences. Right here you possibly can activate Focus mode routinely at sure instances and permit notifications from the apps and folks of your selecting.
Buzz, buzz: Fast tech repair to cease annoying notifications in your cellphone for good
Home windows: Snap it into place
Do you sometimes have a number of home windows open when you work? Snap layouts are a wonderful technique to maintain organized and improve productiveness. Transfer your open functions into totally different positions on the display screen till you discover a structure that works for you.
To make use of a snap structure, hover your mouse over a window’s maximize button or press Win + Z, then select a snap structure.
These aren’t the one shortcuts new to Home windows 11. Listed below are a couple of extra helpful choices:
- Win + A opens Fast Settings
- Win + N opens the Notification Middle
- Win + Z opens the Widget panel
- Win + C opens Microsoft Groups
Lady makes use of laptop computer late at evening.
Mac: Check out Fast Notes
In the event you use iPadOS 15, you’re in all probability acquainted with Fast Notes. It permits you to take notes it doesn’t matter what you’re doing. All it’s a must to do is deliver your cursor to your show display screen’s bottom-right nook. This pops up a field; click on on it to begin working.
There, you possibly can write down an concept, insert a hyperlink or save a photograph. You may even add tags to make them simpler to seek out later.
All of your Fast Notes are saved in a delegated part inside the bigger Notes app, which you’ll entry throughout all of your Apple units. It’s also possible to add mentions and look over previous actions.
The Notes app is extra highly effective than it will get the credit score. Faucet or click on for five helpful belongings you didn’t know Apple Notes can do.
On this picture illustration Apple merchandise seen on a cell phone display screen. (Picture Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Photos/LightRocket through Getty Photos)
Home windows: Straightforward technique to launch voice typing
With voice typing, you possibly can enter textual content in your PC by talking. That is such a timesaver in case you have ideas that it’s worthwhile to get onto a web page.
- Press the Home windows key + H in your keyboard to begin voice typing.
- Say “cease listening” or press the microphone button on the voice typing menu to cease voice typing.
Bonus Tip: Darkish Internet 101: What’s there and why the federal government cannot shut it down
Wade by way of the waters of the Darkish Internet, and you will find medication, assassins, and all kinds of disturbing imagery. But it surely’s additionally a haven for privateness advocates. On this episode, I communicate with ASU professor Victor Benjamin, who reveals simply why it is so onerous to control — and why people of all backgrounds cannot cease coming again.
Take a look at my podcast “Kim Komando Explains” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast participant.
Take heed to the podcast right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Simply seek for my final identify, “Komando.”
What digital life-style questions do you may have? Name Kim’s nationwide radio present and faucet or click on right here to seek out it in your native radio station. You may take heed to or watch The Kim Komando Present in your cellphone, pill, tv, or laptop. Or faucet or click on right here for Kim’s free podcasts.
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Study all the most recent expertise on The Kim Komando Present, the nation’s largest weekend radio speak present. Kim takes calls and dispenses recommendation on as we speak’s digital life-style, from smartphones and tablets to on-line privateness and information hacks. For her day by day suggestions, free newsletters, and extra, go to her web site at Komando.com.
Here in Amsterdam, cheap Super73-knockoffs ridden at almost twice the legal speed have made the city’s renowned bicycle lanes increasingly chaotic and dangerous. Across the Netherlands, over 10,000 of these electric “fat bikes” were seized in 2024.
Engwe’s new Mapfour lineup is the company’s attempt at going legit by expanding from souped-up electric fat bikes and foldables into “premium commuter” e-bikes. And because they’re the first e-bikes that Engwe has designed exclusively for European roads, the company swears they can’t be unlocked for more speed.
I’ve been riding the new Mapfour N1 Pro model for the last few weeks. It lists for €1,899 (almost $2,000), or €1,799 during the initial launch — a price that brings heightened expectations.
The N1 Pro is slathered in premium capabilities like GPS/GSM tracking for which some bike makers charge subscriptions. The monocoque frame and fork are made from carbon fiber supplied by Toray — “the same high-quality carbon fiber as Trek and Specialized,” claims Engwe. There’s even turn-by-turn navigation built into the full-featured app, a large colorful display integrated into the handlebars, and a built-in mechanical lock in the rear wheel hub that automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary.
My review bike was missing a fender bolt, occasionally flashed a strange error code, and the solar-powered rear light won’t turn on. Still, it’s likely the highest quality electric bike Engwe has ever made.
$1714
The Good
- Looks and rides sporty
- Long list of features for price
- Removable battery
- Can’t be speed hacked
The Bad
- Strange error messages
- Servicing parts likely an issue
- Doesn’t support height range claimed
- Can’t be speed hacked
I have lots of experience with assembling direct-to-consumer e-bikes and the N1 Pro was ready to ride in about an hour, which is typical. Even with a carbon-fiber frame it weighs 20.1kg (44lbs) fully assembled according to my scale, which is heavy for an e-bike — just not Veloretti-heavy.
In the box you’ll find a basic toolset that includes everything needed for assembly and instructions written in stellar English unlike some previous Engwe tutorials I’ve read. I had to assemble the pedals, front wheel, kickstand, handlebar, and fenders, and fish out a replacement fender bolt from some spare bicycle parts I had lying around. I then went to adjust the saddle to my height only to discover that I was too tall for the N1 Pro.
The saddle stem has a marked safety line that stops well before the height needed for my 6 foot (183cm) frame, despite being sold in the Netherlands where I’m considered a short king. Nevertheless, exceeding the line by about 2.5cm (one inch) hasn’t made the saddle feel insecure, even when riding over rough cobblestones. Engwe claims the N1 Pro supports riders from 165–190cm, and is considering offering the option for a longer saddle stem at checkout based upon my feedback.
The N1 Pro’s geometry puts the rider into what’s essentially a mountain bike stance: a moderate forward lean with hands spread wide out in front of the body. That wrist and body angle combined with a rather stiff saddle are not ideal for riding long distances, especially in combination with a backpack that’ll put even more weight on the hands and derrière. I do like that fun, sporty posture over short distances, but if you’re looking for a more relaxed ride then Engwe has the upright €1,399 MapFour N1 Air available in both step-over and step-through frames.
The 250W mid-drive Ananda motor on the N1 Pro is nearly silent under the din of road noise, and the integrated torque sensor provides an intuitive pedal-assist at all speeds. It produces up to 80Nm of torque that lets me easily start from a dead stop in fourth gear (of seven) on flat roads, but testing on a hill with a gradient of about 15 percent required a start from first gear. Typically, I only needed to shift to a high gear when I wanted to use my leg power to propel the bike at speeds above the 25km/h motor cutoff.
Despite claiming a range of up to 100km from its modest 360Wh battery, my first test performed over a few weeks yielded just 23km off a full charge in near-freezing conditions. I usually rode in power setting three of five on mostly flat roads. The second test performed on a single warmer day improved the range to 27km with 28 percent charge remaining — or an estimated 36km if I had time to run the battery dry for a below average 10Wh consumed per kilometer travelled. The bike battery seems to suffer from idle battery drain of about 1-2 percent per day when parked inside my house.
Worrisome for a “premium” e-bike: on two occasions I saw an “09” error message flash on the display which Engwe is still diagnosing. Once, while starting the bike after it had been sitting outside in the rain for a few hours. Another time after riding home on a rain-soaked street while switching between the N1 Pro’s regular and high-beam lights. In the first case, a simple reboot cleared it and I was able to ride away fine, but the other time required riding home under my own power before it inexplicably cleared the next morning.
- The bike’s integrated display is readable in all lighting, and shows the remaining battery level, speed, power level, and even distance and direction of next turn if using the navigation built into the useful but overwrought Engwe app.
- I didn’t find Engwe’s turn-by-turn navigation very useful as the guidance presented on the display wasn’t informative or urgent enough for me to make confident decisions when traversing the dense network of crossroads in Amsterdam.
- It has a very loud alarm that can ward off thieves and help locate the e-bike in large parking garages.
- The daytime running lights are fun and help with visibility, but also dorky if you choose the animated options.
- The solar-powered rear light never worked on my review unit.
- Engwe provides a chain guard on shipping units.
- The hydraulic disc brakes from an unspecified vendor provide good controlled stops.
- Includes a 1-year warranty on electrical components, chassis, and battery.
1/19
There was a time when premium e-bikes had list prices around €2,000 / $2,000. Those days are as gone as the free venture capital propping up e-bike startups, pushing premium prices up to a starting price closer to €3,000 / $3,000. The Engwe N1 Pro is therefore priced about right. It’s not a bad e-bike, but it’s also not great despite checking off lots of features on a marketing sheet.
Just remember, servicing a direct-to-consumer e-bike can be a problem as it requires the ready availability of spare parts and the knowledge to replace them. As with any electric bike exposed to the elements and regular road use, the N1 Pro’s motor and any proprietary electronics like the controller, display, battery, lights, buttons, and integrated lock will eventually need servicing. So you’d better be on very good terms with your local bike shop or be handy with a wrench and oscilloscope to prevent your mail-order e-bike from quickly turning into e-waste.
Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to launch the eighth flight test of Starship from Boca Chica, Texas, which could blast off as soon as this Friday as long as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives its approval.
“Starship Flight 8 flies Friday,” Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said in a post on X Sunday.
For the first time, the upcoming flight has a planned payload deployment and multiple experiments on re-entry geared toward returning the upper stage booster to the launch site to be caught.
The launch will also include the return and catch of the Super Heavy booster that will blast the rocket off the launchpad.
STARSHIP UPPER STAGE LOST ON SEVENTH TEST FLIGHT, DEBRIS SEEN SPEWING IN SKY
Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas, before its upper stage was lost. (Associated Press)
During the flight test, Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, which are about the same size as next-generation Starlink satellites, SpaceX said.
The Starlink simulators will be deployed in the same sub orbit as Starship and are expected to burn up upon re-entry.
While Starship is in space, SpaceX also plans to relight a single Raptor engine.
POWERFUL WEBB TELESCOPE SPIES SPECTACULAR STAR BIRTH CLUSTER BEYOND THE MILKY WAY
Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas. (Associated Press)
If all goes as planned, the launch window will open at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The launch comes more than a month after SpaceX launched Starship Flight 7 from the Starbase test site in Boca Chica, which resulted in Starship experiencing a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” nearly 12 minutes into the flight.
The Super Heavy booster descended back to Earth, where it maneuvered to the launch and catch tower arms at Starbase, resulting in the second ever successful catch of Super Heavy.
Starship, however, was not as successful.
MERGER OF MASSIVE BLACK HOLES FROM EARLY UNIVERSE UNCOVERED BY WEBB TELESCOPE, SCIENTISTS SAY
“Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn,” SpaceX said in a statement Jan. 16. “Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand root cause. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”
SpaceX has investigated what caused Starship to break apart, though the investigation remains open.
For Starship Flight 8 to blast off, the FAA must give its approval, which could come in a few ways.
In 2023, the FAA issued a five-year license to SpaceX for launches from Texas, which is revisited for every launch in case modifications need to be made for things like the trajectory of the rocket. The FAA could grant approval once mission specifics and license modifications are made, the FAA told Fox News Digital.
But also lingering is the open investigation into the Starship Flight 7 mishap. To fly again, the investigation needs to be closed, and the FAA must accept the findings. Specifically, the FAA weighs whether the incident put public safety at risk.
At the time of this writing, the investigation had not been closed, and the FAA had not given approval. Still, it is common for the approval to be issued a day or two before launch, the FAA noted.
SpaceX did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
The goal, Patel says, is to continuously cycle through all of Framework’s actively supported laptops, updating each of them one at a time before looping back around and starting the process over again. Functionality-breaking problems and security fixes will take precedence, while additional features and user requests will be lower-priority.
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